System for mixing molasses with feed



May 27, 1958 E. M. WETMORE SYSTEM FOR MIXING MOLASSES WITH FEED 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 27, 1956 SUPPLY HAMMER MOLASSES INVENTOR. E/Z A/fT/VO/FE ATTORNEY May 27, 1958 E. M. WETMORE SYSTEM FOR MIXING MOLASSES WITH FEED 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1956 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. f. M. WET/1400.5 MW

A TTORNE Y United This invention relates to an improved system for mixing molasses with livestock feed.

For many years, and particularly after the advent of specially prepared, high-protein feed for cattle, it has been the practice to feed cattle roughage-type feeds (such as fodder and the like) mixed with molasses in order that the cattle will have suficient bulk food to supplement the high protein diet. Due to the nature of molasses however, it is difficult to efiiciently mix the "molasses with the roughage-type feed. One method has been to spray molasses onto the roughage, either while the roughage is on the ground, or after it has been harvested and before it has been shredded or comminuted. The molasses mixed in this manner will frequently clog a comminutiug apparatus, such as a hammer mill. Another and more widely accepted method of mixing the molasses with roughage has been to spray the molasses into a container or trough of comminuted roughage, while simultaneously turning the roughage to provide a distribution of molasses. In this last-mentioned method the molasses tends to, accumulate or conglomerate bunches of the comminuted roughage, and complicated and expensive apparatus is ordinarily required for turning ':the roughage and providing a distribution of the molasses. To the best of my knowledge, all methods wherein the molasses has been mixed with the feed while the feed is being comrninuted have resulted in failure, such as clogging the grinding or comminuting apparatus.

The present invention contemplates a novel systemfor mixing molasses with livestock feed, and particularly a roughage-type feed, with a minimum of apparatus and in such a manner that the molasses will be eifectively distributed through the feed. In one embodiment of my novel system, the molasses is conducted under pressure to a spray nozzle positioned in the usual hammer mill which is utilized for comminuting the roughage. The spray nozzle is arranged in such a manner, and is so constructed, that the molasses is sprayed in a fine stream into the turbulent air created around the rotating knives or knife of the hammer mill. The spraying is accomplished when the roughage is being comminuted by the hammer mill, and the turbulent air breaks up the spray of molasses into a fine mist, whereby the molasses is efficiently mixed throughout the roughage without clinging to the interior surfaces of th hammer mill.

1 m important object or" this invention isto economically andefficiently provide comminuted livestock feed having molasses thoroughly mixed therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system of mixing molasses with livestock feed by the use of a minimum amount of apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to mix molasses with a roughage-type feed while the feed is being comminuted.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a system of mixing molasses with livestock feed which requires a minimum of skill in the control of the system.

2 i atented iviay 2?, i

ice

2 evident'from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

The drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic flow diagram of a system of mixing molasses with livestock feed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the preferred apparatus of this invention.

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view of the spray nozzle used for spraying the molasses.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be 'the like 33 on the upper end thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the hammer mill shown in Fig. 2 as taken along a vertical plane through the inlet chute in close proximity with the inlet side of the mill.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figure 2, reference character 4 designates a hammer mill of the usual type utilized for comminuting a roughagetype cattle feed. A loading chute 6 extends outwardly and slightly upward from one side of the hammer mill 4 for receiving the on k roughage, and cover 8 extends over the chute 6 adjacent the hammer mill 4. The drive shaft it) of the hammer mill 4 has a plurality of endless belts 12 extending therearound'and leading from any suitable driving mechanism, such as a tractor or the like (not shown). in the usual construction, the hammer mill 4 is mounted on a base 14 which extends to, and is arranged to be lifted by, a tractor or the like (not shown), whereby the hammer mill 4 may be moved where desired for comminutin'g the roughage at the location where the roughage is to be used.

A'bracket i6 is secured on one end 13 of the hammer mill 4 for supporting a suitable pump 2i), suchas a gear pump which will pump molasses. The drive shaft 22 of the pump 2% has a sheave or drive wheel 24 on the outer end thereof. A drive belt 26 extends around the sheave 24 and the drive shaft it of the hammer mill 4, whereby the pump 2% will be operated simultaneously with-the hammer mill 4, and without the use-of a supplementary driving mechanism. v

The inlet 28 of the pump 20 is connected by a conduit 3% to a supply of molasses, such as a barrel 32. It is preferred that theconduit 34 extend into the lower portion (not shown) of the barrel 32, whereby the conduit will effectively pick-up the molasses as long as molasses is available in the barrel, and the molasses will'be circulated in the barrel, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth. It is also preferred that the conduit 31 be constructed out of a flexible material to facilitate installationin the field. The barrel 32' may be placed on the ground adjacent the hammer mill 4.

The outlet 34 of the pump 2% communicates with a T-type connector 36 having a quick-opening petcock or The pe'tcock 38 is used merely for inspectionpurposes todetermine whether or not molasses is being pumped by the pump 20, and is ordinarily closed during operation of the pump.

The remaining connection of the? 36 communicates With another T 40 which has a back pressure valve 42 secured by a bracket 52 to the side of the inlet chute s.

The'valve 50 preferably has an operating lever 5-; Within convenient reach of the outer end of the chute 6 to facilitate opening and closing the Valve 5G, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth. Furthermore, it is preferred 7 bar 66;

vicinity of the knife.

iasse zii that the valve Si? be spring-loadedin order that the valve will move to a closed position when the lever'54 is re leased by the operator. 7

From the I quick-opening "lai /e 56, the conduit 46 extends on out to the outer end of the; chute 6, la'n d then (see Fig. 4) along one; side of-the chute 6 down toward the hammer mill 4. 'As shown in Figure -3,-the

outer end Shot the conduit 46-is externally threaded to eceive a spray nozzle 69. The nozzle; 60 maybe conveniently constructed out of a pipe cap witha small aperture 62 formed in the center of the closed end of the cap. The spray nozzle 60 is positioned .in the inlet chute 6 opposite and inproximity with the rotating knife 64 of the hammer mill 4. Reference character 66' designatesone of several stationary shearing bars secured in' the mill 4 around the inlet for the feed to cooperate with the rotor 64 in'comminuting the feed. It will .be

observed that the nozzle 66 is positioned immediately inward of the nearest bar 66, whereby molasses sprayed from the nozzle 6!} will not be directly sprayed on the in one embodiment of thisinventiomthat portion of the'conduit 46 extending down the chute 6 is constructed out of 1/2; inch pipe, and the nozzle 65 is constructed out of a inche pipe cap withlthe aperture 62 being A of an inch'intdiameter; ain'this embodiment, the outer end of the nozzlefil' is spaced /2 'inchfrom the knife 64 for spraying the molasses at substantially aflright u angle to theplane of movement of the knife 64. As

' it is well known in the art, the knife 64 is rotated at 'a high speed (such as 1600?; P. M.) by the hammer 7 mill 4,"and induces a turbulent movement of air in the I have found that when molasses is Sprayed into this turbulent air; the molasses is changed into a fine mist to efiiciently min with feed, as will here-: tlinafter appearl a V V Operation 7 In operation-the hammer mill 4 is driven by any suitabljmeans through use of thebelts 12' and drive shaft lt) :to rotatethe knife 64 at high speed. The pump 20' is simultaneously driven through use of the drive shaft 22, sheave 24 and belt 26 to provide a constant pumping of molasses from the barrel '32 through the [conduit '30 and out the discharge or outlet 34 of the pump. This niola sses' is discharged through the conduits 44 and 46.- As previously noted, thetvalve 50 will normally be in a closed position to prevent a discharge of the molasses through the conduit 46. There: fore} the molasses is circulated through the valve 42 and hy-pas's conduits: back to the barrel 32. The pressure-valve 42 may beset at any desired'pressure toassure that sufficient pressure will be present in the conpivots the lever 54 to open the quick-opening valve 50 and provide a discharge of the'vmolasses through the 7 conduit 46 and nozzle 66. As the molasses is sprayed the hammer mill t long as it is accessible to the operator of the hammer-mill.

out through the aperture 62 of the nozzle 6%, it enters the zone of turbulent air around the rotating knife 64 and is broken up or distributed into a'fine mist for efiicient mixing with the roughage as the'roughage is .being comminuted. lthas been found that the/molassesv will not cling to the interior surfaces of the mill 4 to any appreciable extent, or agglomeratethe roughage in the mill, when sprayed into the mill in this manner. It is also to be noted that the roughage is violently, mixed and turned while being coh'am'intitei' to facilitate the distribution of the molasses through the; feed. The com- 7 minuted roughage which has been sprayedwith molasses is thrown upwardly through the discharge 70 of the hammer mill 4, and is usually piled in the vicinity of for convenient feeding to cattle or thelike. if 'i i 'As soon aseach bunch of the'roughage is'commin'ute'd in the hammer mill 4, the operator releases thelever54 and the valve Shautomatically closes to preventafurther spraying ofimolasses into. the hammer mill. 7 oration is repeated for each bunch of roughageied into a the hammer mill. It will be apparent that thequick-opem This 'oping valve 50 may be located in any desired position, as

Summary Inithe preferred embodiment (see Fig. l), 1the present V system utilizes a hammer mill 4 and a molasses supply 32 being connected to the hammer mill 4 through a conduit' indicated at 36 and 46. The conduit 46 extends thr'oughthe inlet chute 60f the hammer mill 4 for spraying the molasses into the zone of turbulent air surrounding the ha'mmer mill rotor;

V A pump 20 is connected between the conduit 36 and for forcing the molasses under pressure through the conduit 46 write 7 the hammer mill 4. A by-pass conduit 44 is'connected to the conduit 46 for providing a return of molasses to the molasses'supply 32 when the molasses is not being sprayed into the hammer mill. A pressurewalve 42fis interposed in the conduit 44 to retain a back' pressure on the conduit 46. V a 7 The supply of molasses to the hammernfill 4 "is con 7 trolled by a quick-opening valve 59 interposed in the conduit 46 j for spraying the molasses into the hammer duit 46 upstream of the quick-operiing'valve 50 for V efiicient operation of the system; With the specific em bodimentpreviously mentioned, the va lve 42'may be set at approximately 70 pounds per square inch pressure to maintain a constant pressure-of '770 pounds on the quick-'opening'valve Bil. This pressure may be visually, verified or checked through use'rof -the pressure gauge 48.

It will"ther'efore be apparent that when molasses is w not being sprayediinto the harnmer mill 4, the molasses is constantly circulated through the conduits 39 and 44 to provide a constant stirring'of the molasses in the. 'barrel 32 and prevent thickening of themolasses. In' cool weather the molasses would become extremely thick if not constantly stirred and heated by circulation through the conduits 30 and 44.-

As the operator places each bunch of 'mill when'and as desired. The pressure of the molasses available for sprayinginto'the hammer mill maybe constantly observed by use of the pressure gauge 48, which Y is interposed in the conduit 46 "upstream of the quickopening valve 50. 1 a

Frm the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides an economical and efficient system 'for mixing molassesrwith feed which is to be comminuted and fed to livestock. The molasses is mixed with the feed while" the feed is being comminuted without the use of a separatemixing apparatusj All of they apparatus required beyond that normally required for commuting the feed "consists of de'vicesand c'onnecl *tionsreadily availableQ It will also be apparent that operation of the present system will require a' minimum of skill andinstruction ofthe operator;

'Changesfmay be made in the 'cornbina'tionland arrangeinent of elementsfas heretofore set fdrth 'in'the specification and shown in the dfawings' 'jit bein'g'understoodlthatchanges may be rnade in thefpre'cise embodiment shown without departing'fr'om' the spirit and; scope of the invention as defined inf the appended claims. I claim; 7 71. A system for mixing molasseswith cattle feed; comprising a hammer mill having rotatingknit'e'means'for comminuting' the'feed; said knife means being operable at a speed to create a zone of turbulent 'air therearound, a spray nozzle secured to the gmill on a level with the i 5 rotating knife means with its outlet in proximity with the rotating knife means, a molasses supply, and pressure means for conducting the molasses under pressure from the molasses supply to the nozzle, whereby the molasses is sprayed into the zone of turbulent air to mix with the feed as the feed is being comrninuted.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 characterized further in that the hammer mill has an inlet chute in one side thereof for receiving the non-comminuted feed, and the spray nozzle is secured in a peripheral portion of the inlet chute and arranged to spray the molasses in the direction of movement of the non-comminuted feed.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 characterized further in that the nozzle is arranged to spray the molasses at substantially a right angle to the plane of rotation of the rotating knife means.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 characterized further in that said pressure means comprises a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a first conduit connecting the pump inlet to the molasses supply, a second conduit connecting the pump outlet to the spray nozzle, a lay-pass conduitinterconnecting said second conduit to the molasses supply, a relief valve interposed in said by-pass conduit for retaining a pressure on said second conduit, and a quick-opening valve interposed in said second conduit downstream of said by-pass conduit for controlling the supply of molasses to the spray nozzle, whereby the molasses may be sprayed into the hammer mill only when feed is being comminuted.

5. A system as defined in claim 4 characterized further in that said quick-openin valve is arranged near the inlet chute of the hammer mill to be operated by the operator of the hammer mill.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,444,528 Schreiber Feb. 6, 1923 2,081,552 Myers May 25, 1937 2,125,993 Dellinger Aug. 9, 1938 2,203,980 Burt June 11, 1940 

